Hundreds of children have had their dreams of meeting a Disney princess ruined after the company that hires out lookalikes cancelled two Christmas events.
Precious Princess Parties, based in Romford, cancelled the parties where 160 children were due to meet characters Elsa and Anna from hit film Frozen.
The company had also failed to show at a Great Ormond Street charity event in Maldon, Essex, according to the organisers, and a fifth birthday party, on top of “several” other cancellations that left fancy-dressed youngsters in tears.
The owner of Precious Princess Parties said “a large amount of threats” on the company’s Facebook page had forced her to scrap the balls and close her business.
Sarah Blackburn, of Maldon, was expecting “Elsa” at her charity event on November 30.
She said she spoke to the company two days before.
“We waited and waited but she didn’t show,” she told the Recorder.
“All the kids were crying and saying ‘when is she turning up?’”
Disappointed parent Katie Bragg, of Westmoreland Avenue, Gidea Park, hired the company for her daughter’s birthday party in November.
She said: “She just failed to turn up. I called her 27 times.
“My daughter was dressed up as Elsa, she was devastated. I felt sick – it was meant to be magical.”
Speaking to the Recorder, owner Daisie, who did not want her surname to be published, said staffing problems caused one “no show” and “several cancellations”, which she admitted were at short notice.
She said she was organising refunds for those who had purchased tickets, which cost £30 each, for the two events due to take place in Chelmsford last Sunday and this weekend.
“I’m sure the children at Katie’s party were devastated and I’m sure I have disappointed parents and angered them,” she said.
Sisters Toni and Terri Croft, of Hornchurch, whose daughters were due to attend the Christmas ball, have managed to saved this Sunday’s event at the Saracen’s Head Hotel in the High Street with the help of the venue and other party companies.
Toni, of Bader Way, said: “When I told my daughter it was cancelled she said ‘but Elsa asked me to go so why can’t I go?
“I’d like to thank all the companies which have helped us put the event on this Sunday.”
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